Randall Murphree
AFA Journal editor
August 2010 – “I was on a radio interview the other day,” says Stuart Barton, president of American Seniors Association. “The host said, ‘Stuart, why is someone who’s 40-something years old running a seniors organization?’
“I told him, ‘Well, I might not be a senior today, but I sure hope to be one some day.’ Senior issues should be issues for all citizens because all citizens want to be seniors.”
When Barton helped found the faith-based ASA in 2005, he saw it as a simple conservative alternative to the increasingly liberal American Association of Retired Persons and its trend toward supporting big government. Now, he says the need for ASA is even more critical as AARP has endorsed President Barack Obama’s trillion-dollar health care program that, Barton says, will radically reduce benefits to seniors and diminish the value our culture places on their lives.
Numerous Washington leaders echo Barton’s beliefs. For example, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) noted on the Senate floor that the AARP-backed Obama bill will take Medicare Advantage benefits from 300,000 seniors in Arizona alone.
“I say to the senior citizens in my state, ‘Take your AARP membership card, cut it in half and send it back to AARP because they have betrayed you,’” McCain said.
U.S. Rep. Thomas Price, M.D. (R-GA), reflected the same sentiments in a prepared statement for ASA. “The proposed billions of dollars in cuts to Medicare Advantage alone would do incredible harm to seniors’ access to quality health care,” Price said. “It is rather stunning that any organization [i.e., AARP] whose mission it is to advocate for seniors could support such a plan.”
Price went on to commend ASA for offering seniors comparable benefits at comparable cost ($15/year) without sacrificing the principles they hold dear.
Policy in public arena
ASA’s four pillars offer a concise look at how it will take a stand for seniors in the public and political arenas, working for reform in the hot button areas of Medicare, Social Security, taxes and illegal immigration.
Regarding Social Security, Barton told his radio host, “I tell you right now, I wish I could do something for my 73-year-old father, but I’m not sure we can accomplish Social Security reform in his time here on earth. But maybe we can do something for you and me.”
Barton told the AFA Journal about ASA’s proposal for Social Security reform. “If you could use part of your Social Security withdrawals to put into a private retirement account,” he said, “that would be a great first step for Social Security reform.”
When it comes to illegal aliens, ASA policy says simply, “Lawbreakers do not deserve Social Security payments intended for you and your family who are citizens.” Regarding tax reform, ASA advocates a simplified tax code that can be easily understood by the ordinary citizen. After all, it’s money he has earned.
Peter Marshall, longtime actor, is honorary chairman of ASA. He is probably best known for his near 20-year tenure as host of the popular television game show Hollywood Squares.
“Unlike AARP, we don’t advocate for every liberal big government program and tax increase that comes along,” Marshall said. “We want to represent your values to government. We don’t want to represent government’s values to you. That’s a difference we are proud of.”
Benefits for daily living
ASA membership gives seniors access to savings through prescription discounts, financial products, an auto club and other travel benefits. The group gives its members better choices to supplement Medicare and better choices in other insurance programs.
“We are working right now with Mutual of Omaha to access their Medicare supplement program,” Barton says. “And our dental program through Emeritus Dental blows away anything offered by AARP. It’s about $50 a month. And we’re about to launch a benefits package with a hearing aid partner.”
ASA’s several hundred thousand members are in all 50 states and 9 countries. Barton says it is growing about as fast as the staff can manage, but he is committed to serving efficiently as the numbers grow still greater. “When we have a loud enough voice,” he says, “government can’t help but listen to us.”
Barton points out that Obama’s health care proposal will cut $500 billion from Medicare, a direct and potentially deadly assault on millions of seniors. “This is what ASA is about,” Barton says, “protecting the security and dignity of America’s seniors by looking out for their health and their wealth.” 
CONTACT:
www.americanseniors.org
800-951-0017
[email protected]
3700 Mansell Road, Suite 220
Alpharetta, GA 30022
